‘It’s devastating’: Neighbor reflects on fatal fire in Port Charlotte‘The sound of death’ Neighbors concerned by amount of crashes on Joel Blvd
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘It’s devastating’: Neighbor reflects on fatal fire in Port Charlotte A devastating house fire Monday night in Port Charlotte has left one person dead and another hospitalized while neighbors mourn the possible loss of a beloved member of their community.
‘The sound of death’ Neighbors concerned by amount of crashes on Joel Blvd A woman is heartbroken from witnessing crash after crash outside her Lehigh Acres home.
Fort Myers get 15% increase on flood insurance discount WINK News is finding out what led to the city of Fort Myers going from just a 5% FEMA flood insurance discount to a 20% discount.
FORT MYERS Locals house California wildfire victims The effects of the California fires are being felt worldwide as people evacuate some are in southwest Florida.
LOVERS KEY Couple returns to Lovers Key condo post Ian While Hurricane Ian is long gone from Southwest Florida, many are still feeling its impacts.
EVERGLADES Biden signs Water Resources Development Act, its effect on SWFL President Biden recently signed into law the Water Resources Development Act with an aim to improve rivers and harbors across the country and provide for the conservation of water. Southwest Florida was included in that act. Putting the 240-page plan together took a lot of work, not just from state and federal lawmakers, but also […]
Turning business travel into a vacation Would work travel seem a little easier if you could turn it into a vacation? Two professors say they have proof that would help business travel.
The future of biometrics: Safer security or new AI risks? In 2021, the Transportation Service Agency (TSA) launched its new touchless identity solution in the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County airport.
CAPE CORAL Pelican Elementary resource officer saves infant A school resource officer at Pelican Elementary saved an infants’ life at a traffic stop in Cape Coral.
FORT MYERS Progress being made on City View Park in Dunbar More promises made by a city that has not kept its promises for the last six years have some neighbors concerned about the future of their community.
COLLIER COUNTY Seacrest hoops player hits a full court buzzer beater Seacrest Country Day School boys basketball player Hayden Fuller hits full court buzzer beater against Aubrey Rogers.
NAPLES Cutting-edge ACL surgery reducing reinjury risk by 80% Known for its game-changing orthopedic repair options, Naples-based Arthrex has done it again.
NAPLES MacStrength FL offers sport and lifestyle training for young athletes In 2025, MacStrength FL is swinging for success with their current players and for a wider reach in its community.
You can appeal FEMA’s decision on your claim – Here’s how Now a week after the deadline for FEMA hurricane assistance has closed, the federal agency says you can appeal their decision on your claim if you don’t agree.
Naples selects city CFO as next city manager, averts national search Naples Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Gary Young will become the next city manager, averting a lengthy, expensive national search for a replacement.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘It’s devastating’: Neighbor reflects on fatal fire in Port Charlotte A devastating house fire Monday night in Port Charlotte has left one person dead and another hospitalized while neighbors mourn the possible loss of a beloved member of their community.
‘The sound of death’ Neighbors concerned by amount of crashes on Joel Blvd A woman is heartbroken from witnessing crash after crash outside her Lehigh Acres home.
Fort Myers get 15% increase on flood insurance discount WINK News is finding out what led to the city of Fort Myers going from just a 5% FEMA flood insurance discount to a 20% discount.
FORT MYERS Locals house California wildfire victims The effects of the California fires are being felt worldwide as people evacuate some are in southwest Florida.
LOVERS KEY Couple returns to Lovers Key condo post Ian While Hurricane Ian is long gone from Southwest Florida, many are still feeling its impacts.
EVERGLADES Biden signs Water Resources Development Act, its effect on SWFL President Biden recently signed into law the Water Resources Development Act with an aim to improve rivers and harbors across the country and provide for the conservation of water. Southwest Florida was included in that act. Putting the 240-page plan together took a lot of work, not just from state and federal lawmakers, but also […]
Turning business travel into a vacation Would work travel seem a little easier if you could turn it into a vacation? Two professors say they have proof that would help business travel.
The future of biometrics: Safer security or new AI risks? In 2021, the Transportation Service Agency (TSA) launched its new touchless identity solution in the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County airport.
CAPE CORAL Pelican Elementary resource officer saves infant A school resource officer at Pelican Elementary saved an infants’ life at a traffic stop in Cape Coral.
FORT MYERS Progress being made on City View Park in Dunbar More promises made by a city that has not kept its promises for the last six years have some neighbors concerned about the future of their community.
COLLIER COUNTY Seacrest hoops player hits a full court buzzer beater Seacrest Country Day School boys basketball player Hayden Fuller hits full court buzzer beater against Aubrey Rogers.
NAPLES Cutting-edge ACL surgery reducing reinjury risk by 80% Known for its game-changing orthopedic repair options, Naples-based Arthrex has done it again.
NAPLES MacStrength FL offers sport and lifestyle training for young athletes In 2025, MacStrength FL is swinging for success with their current players and for a wider reach in its community.
You can appeal FEMA’s decision on your claim – Here’s how Now a week after the deadline for FEMA hurricane assistance has closed, the federal agency says you can appeal their decision on your claim if you don’t agree.
Naples selects city CFO as next city manager, averts national search Naples Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Gary Young will become the next city manager, averting a lengthy, expensive national search for a replacement.
Year after year, WINK News makes a focused effort to fight an issue that impacts many people in Southwest Florida: hunger. At the end of January, WINK News put the word out. Letting the community know it was almost time to start our March to a Million Meals. RELATED: March to a Million Meals: Harry Chapin helps families overcome impossible choices Starting the Campaign WINK News anchor Lois Thome spearheads the March to a Million Meals campaign. “It renews my faith in people and how they love each other,” said Thome about being part of the campaign. “As a news anchor, we often read stories that show how divided we can be. This campaign shows that at the core of ourselves, we care about one another.” The goal of the March to a Million Meals campaign is to feed 1,000,000 people by March 1 with community-based donations. RELATED: March to a Million Meals begins at WINK News, helping food-insecure families Every dollar raised is $2 in meals to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. That means donating $6 feeds a family of four for a day or donating $60 feeds 10 families. Teaming up with the Harry Chapin Food Bank, WINK News set out to help feed local families. They are the largest hunger relief nonprofit in SWFL. They’re also the only Feeding America member that serves Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. Off to a Powerful Start Southwest Florida was ready. It didn’t take long for the donations to start pouring in. Quickly, donations led to more than 77,000 meals provided to hungry SWFL families. Thome explained what it meant to be involved in WINK Feeds Families again in 2024. “It means you’re part of something great,” said Thome. “A true community effort of neighbor helping neighbor. Personally, it makes me proud to be a part of it because it shows how caring my community is.” RELATED: March to a Million Meals: Moore Haven gifted meals Hour after hour, day after day, the donations didn’t stop coming. Donations ranged from just a couple of dollars to more than $1,000. By Feb. 7, WINK News was more than halfway to its goal and raised enough money for more than 567,000 meals. CREDIT: WINK News Throughout the 2024 WINK Feeds Families campaign Thome witnessed many moments that were moving. She explained the most moving moment came down to meeting those in the community who benefit from the donations. “I have met many seniors on fixed incomes and working families struggling to feed themselves,” said Thome. “It is so heartwarming to see the relief on their faces when someone hands them a box or bag of food. The stress just melts away. Our viewers did that, and that’s truly touching.” Goal met but Campaign Continued Ten days later, just a little after the halfway mark on Saturday morning, Feb. 17, WINK News reached the goal of 1,000,000 meals donated. But just because the goal was reached didn’t mean the mission was over. RELATED: March to a Million Meals reaches goal More and more donations were made to feed hungry SWFL families. The effort made by those donating to continue doing so even after reaching the goal is part of what makes this so special to Thome. Bags of food for March to a Million Meals. CREDIT: WINK News Thome explained how people can continue to help feed those in need in the community. “They can continue to support the Harry Chapin Food Bank of SWFL. Make a donation, donate non-perishable food items or volunteer. All of those things will make a difference,” said Thome. RELATED: Harry Chapin partner agency’s Care and Share senior feeding program: A beacon of hope for seniors As of 11 p.m., on Feb. 29, WINK Feeds Families has helped raise enough money to provide more than 1,341,000 meals. More than a quarter of a million more meals than the original goal. Thanks to more than 4,300 supporters, WINK News reached more than 129% of the original goal. We Can Always Raise More! For Thome and all of WINK News, it doesn’t mean just a job well done but a hope for more. Thome noted one memory that particularly sticks out. “A few years ago, my friend Billy Fuccillo, the owner of the Kia dealerships at the time, called me up when we were short of our goal … and showed up the next day with a $100,000 check to ensure we met our goal,” said Thome. “I believe that gift set off a chain reaction of giving that was wonderfully contagious.” There is still time to donate. Donations will end at midnight on Thursday. Click here to find out more information on how to donate to the WINK Feeds Families campaign.